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1 PARTNERS INFLUENCE ON WOMEN S ADDICTION AND RECOVERY: The Connection between Substance Abuse, Trauma, and Intimate Relationships National Abandoned Infants Assistance Resource Center University of California at Berkeley 2002

2 Authorship This monograph is the result of a collaborative effort on behalf of the National Abandoned Infants Assistance Resource Center (NAIARC) and the members of a national Technical Expert Group (TEG). Amy Price, MPA, of NAIARC and Cassandra Simmel, MSW, Ph.D., of the Administration on Children, Youth, and Families, shared jointly in the authorship of this publication. The views expressed herein are solely those of the authors and TEG members and do not necessarily represent the views or policy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. i

3 Acknowledgments The authors are deeply indebted to the TEG members who shared their experience, expertise and time to inform, plan, and edit this document. We also thank and commend the administrators and staff of the programs described herein for moving beyond traditional service models to better meet the needs of women and their families, and for sharing information about their innovative programs. We greatly appreciate the assistance of other AIARC staff Jeanne Pietrzak, John Krall, Lauren Wichterman, and Linda Way for their creative ideas, research, course, this project would not have been possible without the support of Pat Campiglia and the Children s Bureau at the Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Children, Youth, and Families. Thanks also to Lisa Najavits, PhD, and Laurie Drabble, PhD, for their groundbreaking work in this field and for taking the time to review this document. Finally, we have great respect for all the women who have survived substance abuse, violence, and trauma, and we applaud the partners who have supported women in their recovery and healing. administrative assistance, and critical editing. Of This monograph was made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Children s Bureau, and it should be cited as: Price, A. & Simmel, C. (2002). Partners' Influence on Women's Addiction and Recovery: The Connection Between Substance Abuse, Trauma, and Intimate Relationships. Berkeley, CA: National Abandoned Infants Assistance Resource Center, University of California at Berkeley. ii

8 Overview Substance abuse is a significant public health and child welfare problem that extends to all demographic groups. For many individuals, addiction is a chronic impairment; the recovery process may take a long time and include frequent relapses. Thus, it is important to understand the psychosocial factors that interfere with or sustain long-term recovery in addicts in order to help prevent or minimize the frequency and severity of relapse. Despite the fact that alcohol and other drug (AOD) problems affect women and men of all age groups, historically, the etiology, course, and treatment of AOD addiction have been understood from a predominantly male perspective. Research and policies that aim to understand the specific issues pertaining to female addicts, however, have been emerging for the last several decades. Some of these issues include: Women recover in connection, not isolation. Trauma is extremely prevalent among female AOD users and can be caused by sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, domestic violence, witnessing abuse/violence, and/or stigmatization of incarcerated women, women of color, poor women, lesbians, and women with mental illness. As a result, internalizing disorders (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety) and poor interpersonal skills and attributes (e.g., low self-esteem, avoidant coping skills, shame, and guilt) frequently co-occur with AOD problems in women. Because addiction, trauma, and psychopathology are interrelated among women, programs must be developed comprehensively to address all of these issues. The confluence of trauma, psychopathology, and, often resulting, poor interpersonal skills affects substance abusing women s relationships with others. Partners often play a large role in women s introduction to alcohol or other drugs, and in their motivation and/or ability to access treatment and remain clean and sober. Treatment programs need to be sensitive to the unique needs of lesbians, specifically issues related to discrimination and homophobia, sexual identity issues, isolation, and possible shame. 1

9 An ever-increasing number of programs offer gender-specific services to better address some of these issues unique to women s recovery. Moreover, recognizing the large number of parenting women substance users, more and more programs are becoming family-focused in order to meet the needs of women and their children. Although these changes reflect tremendous progress in the substance abuse treatment field, most programs for women fail to actively engage women s partners or provide any concrete services for them, despite general awareness of the role that they play in women's recovery. This monograph attempts to move the field forward another step by expanding the concept of familyfocused services to purposively include women s partners. Therefore, while the document will discuss interpersonal factors that may lead to or exacerbate substance abuse problems in women, it will focus primarily on how a woman's relationship with her partner affects the etiology, course, and treatment of her AOD addiction. For instance, a partner may play a positive role by being a source of support and encouragement throughout a woman s recovery from addiction. Conversely, a partner may have a negative influence by engaging a woman in drug and alcohol use and/or by thwarting her attempts at sobriety. Whether these negative contributions are purposeful or concomitant side effects of the partner s own AOD use or other personal beliefs or difficulties needs to be carefully explored and understood by the woman herself and the clinicians working with her. Defining the term partner A woman interacts in significant ways with multiple people in her family and community, and each of these relationships may have a unique impact on her development and growth and in her recovery from addiction. While the interpersonal impact of a woman's relationship with her own parents, siblings, or friends must not be overlooked or underestimated, addressing these relationships in the treatment context is beyond the scope of this monograph. Thus, for purposes of this document, the term partner refers specifically to the individual(s) with whom a woman is intimately involved. This can include girlfriend/boyfriend, spouse, and/or the biological father of a woman s child(ren). Because the majority of existing research and programmatic experience in this area addresses heterosexual relationships, that will be the primary focus of this monograph. However, many of the etiologic precursors to AOD use as well as the treatment elements discussed herein also apply to lesbians. Thus, in general, the term partner is used herein to refer to both lesbian and heterosexual relationships. Unique aspects of serving male partners, as well as lesbians and their partners, will be highlighted, when appropriate, throughout the text. Monograph goals This monograph will be useful for program administrators, clinicians, and policy makers who work with women in recovery. Its primary goals are: (1) to provide a better understanding of the role that intimate partners play in women s recovery from substance abuse; (2) to explore strategies for helping women to assess their past and present intimate relationships in the context of their addiction; and (3) to present strategies for safely engaging partners in women s recovery. More specifically, this monograph delineates and describes the relational influences that are intertwined with a woman s addiction and recovery, and discusses the positive and negative contributions and roles that partners can play in sustaining a woman s addiction and facilitating or hampering her recovery. 2

10 It discusses the clinical issues involved in assessing the health and safety of intimate relationships; identifying and addressing the systemic and clinical factors that interfere with engaging partners in substance abuse treatment; and helping women to examine their relationships and address their interpersonal issues to develop healthier partnerships. The monograph discusses various strategies for engaging partners in women s recovery, and it addresses programmatic issues related to staffing, funding, and interagency collaboration. Finally, this monograph presents several programs that treat addicted women in the context of their relationships with intimate partners, and/or that directly incorporate partners in the treatment process. 3

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12 Unique Trajectories of Addiction, Treatment, and Recovery in Women In 1994, the director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) recognized that "drug abuse may present significantly different challenges to women's health, may progress differently in women than in men, and may require different treatment approaches" than those that were in place in 1994 (NIDA, 1995). Despite the surge in women focused programs and the number of women clients, many such treatment programs continue to operate according to the male model of AOD abuse instead of specifically addressing the unique needs of women who abuse AOD (Covington, 2002; Drabble, 1996; Finkelstein, 1996). While there may be some similarities between the risk factors predisposing both men and women to addiction and abuse (e.g., family history of alcohol and drug use), certain psychosocial variables are more pronounced in female addicts than in male addicts (Marcenko, Kemp, & Larson, 2000). This section will detail some of the more compelling female specific interpersonal factors that affect women s substance use. Of particular importance to this monograph is the impact of childhood sexual abuse on women s AOD abuse, as well as the strong association between domestic violence and women s AOD abuse (Banks & Boehm, 2001; Covington, 2002; Finkelstein, Kennedy, Thomas, & Kearns, 1997; NIDA,1998a; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services {U.S. DHHS}, 1999). Other psychosocial issues specific to female addicts include low selfesteem, social isolation, and pressures and challenges associated with the caregiver role that is traditionally ascribed to women in American society. Childhood trauma Childhood sexual and physical abuse have been especially prominent in the etiology of AOD addiction among women. Studies of women enrolled in AOD treatment programs indicate that 30 to 75% have histories of child sexual abuse (Luthar & Walsh, 1995 as cited in Marcenko, Kemp, and Larson, 2000; NIDA, 2001), and these rates appear to be similar regardless of a woman s sexual preference (Hughes & Eliason, 2002). Similarly, McCauley, Kern, Kolodner, & Dill (1997) (as cited in U.S. DHHS, 1999) found a strong association between childhood histories of sexual and physical abuse and subsequent AOD addiction in adult women. In this study, the women who had traumatic childhood histories were five times more likely than those who did not to use drugs, and over twice as prone to abuse alcohol. Many researchers suggest that use of AOD may be a distorted attempt to escape the unresolved emotional trauma of abuse or neglect and to undo or 5

13 mask the shame and pain associated with the trauma (Covington, 2002; Dunnegan, 1997; Najavits, Weiss, & Shaw, 1999; U.S. DHHS, 1999). In one urban study of low-income African American women, unresolved issues pertaining to maltreatment were strongly associated with severity and duration of drug usage (Simmons, 2000). This study suggests that women who have counseling/therapeutic intervention to help them cope with trauma may be less prone to abuse drugs or to relapse. Thus, failing to address women s childhood trauma histories in treatment is likely to increase the risk of relapse (Brown, Stout, & Miller, 1999; Najavits, Weiss, & Shaw, 1999; Simmons, 2000). Female victims of childhood sexual abuse are also at risk for later sexual and/or physical revictimization (Finkelstein, Kennedy, Thomas, & Kearns, 1997). In addition, girls and women are exposed to numerous other types of sexual harassment and mistreatment in American society, all of which can make them vulnerable to AOD use. These include physical abuse, emotional abuse, domestic violence, and/or stigmatization (e.g., of incarcerated women, women of color, poor women, lesbians, and mentally ill women). As Finkelstein and colleagues (1997) suggest, these histories and events may contribute to the worthlessness, despair, and disconnection that women substance abusers often feel (p. 14). Co-occurring mental health impairments Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a set of emotional problems that can occur after someone has experienced a terrible, stressful life event (Najavits, 2002a, p. 118). Given the high prevalence of childhood abuse and trauma among female drug users, it is not surprising that at least 30% to 59% of female addicts suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These rates exceed those found in the population of male addicts by two to three times and those in the general population of women, not in treatment for addiction, by three to five times (Najavits, Weiss, & Shaw, 1997; Najavits, Weiss, & Shaw, 1999). As Najavits and colleagues (1997) explain, the syndromes of PTSD and substance abuse appear to be strongly linked. For example, the presence of either disorder alone can increase the risk of developing the other disorder (p.3). Similar to the reliance on substances as a coping mechanism for women to contain or detach from the painful memories of early abuse, women afflicted with PTSD may also use AODs to self medicate against the distress caused by PTSD. Of particular salience to the treatment of women is that PTSD symptoms may actually worsen as women achieve abstinence (Najavits, Weiss, & Shaw, 1997), a finding that has obvious implications for women's propensity to relapse following treatment (Brown, Stout, & Mueller, 1999). For example, one study of discharged AOD addicted clients showed that relapse rates were faster for patients with PTSD than for those without PTSD (Brown, Stout, & Miller, 1999). Indeed, the comorbidity of PTSD and substance disorders indicates a much more complex and problematic treatment population who may be afflicted with numerous other high-stress life events (e.g., suicide attempts; criminal behavior; familial and relationship instability) (Najavits, Weiss, & Shaw, 1999). Additionally, the lifetime prevalence of psychopathology among female victims of childhood maltreatment has been well documented (for a review, see Macmillan, et al., 2001). Though men with such histories also may be prone to psychopathology, the association is not as strong (Macmillan, et al., 2001). Internalizing disorders such as depression and anxiety are much more prevalent among female addicts than male addicts (NIDA, 1998a; U.S. DHHS, 1999). Recent 6

14 estimates indicate that 30-50% of female addicts experience depression or an anxiety-related disorder (U.S. DHHS, 1999). While the presence of internalizing disorders may be caused by substance use, women often use AODs to self-medicate the symptoms of anxiety and depression (Brady, 2001). Of particular relevance to treatment providers is the fact that anxiety and depression may worsen for women as they undergo withdrawal from substances (Brady, 2001). Thus, it is clear that substance abuse, mental health, and trauma are interrelated issues that require a comprehensive, coordinated, and holistic treatment approach in order to effectively intervene with women (Covington, 2002). Low self-esteem, shame, & guilt Frequent accompaniments to maltreatment and substance abuse in women are low self-esteem, avoidant coping skills, poor interpersonal and familial relationships and stigmatization (Camp & Finkelstein, 1997; Comfort & Kaltenbach, 2000; Nelson- Zlupko, Dore, Kauffman & Kaltenbach, 1996; Simmons, 2000). Low self-esteem is often correlated to women s substance abuse problems (Camp & Finkelstein, 1997; Finkelstein, Kennedy, Thomas, & Kearns, 1997; NIDA 2001) and is intertwined with detrimental romantic and other interpersonal relationships. For instance, it may be difficult for female addicts with low self-esteem to accurately gauge or assess the true nature of their relationships. Consequently, they may exaggerate their need for a partner who may be fueling their substance use (Amaro & Hardy-Fanta, 1995; Trepper, McCollum, Dankoski, Davis, & LaFazia, 2000). Further, having low self worth may interfere with developing healthy friendships and connections causing a woman to become increasingly isolated which, in turn, will exacerbate her low self esteem and powerlessness (Camp & Finkelstein, 1997; Finkelstein, Kennedy, Thomas, & Kearns, 1997). Thus, many women who use alcohol or other drugs are socially isolated (Comfort & Kaltenbach, 2000; Fals-Stewart, Birchler, O'Farrell 1999; Ramler & Price, 1993) and lack social support systems to encourage their move toward healthier lifestyles. Additionally, female addicts are more likely than male addicts to experience shame and guilt associated with their AOD use (Nelson-Zlupko, Dore, Kauffman, & Kaltenbach, 1996). Women s propensity toward feeling shame and guilt may be based on their increased likelihood of involvement with child welfare authorities and on their self-hatred for their perceived failure as caregivers (Banks & Boehm, 2001; U.S. DHHS, 1999; Finkelstein, Kennedy, Thomas, & Kearns, 1997). Their negative self image surrounding their perceptions of themselves as failing at caregiving is further aggravated by society s similar expectations of motherhood as the ultimate, most fulfilling role of womankind (Finkelstein, Brown, & Laham, 1981, p.46). Treatment providers, too, can compound substance abusing women s shame and guilt about their addiction, perhaps often unwittingly, by reinforcing society s expectations about the image of the ideal mother (Finkelstein, Brown, & Laham, 1981). Because women often are the primary caregivers and fear losing their children and families, they may ignore or deny their AOD difficulties; likewise, a woman's family may deny or minimize her problems due to their reliance on her as a caregiver (Weissman & O'Boyle, 2000). Taking refuge behind such a huge secret will also undoubtedly fuel her low self-esteem, isolation, shame and guilt. For lesbian or bi-sexual women, these issues often are compounded by stigma and shame associated with same-sex sexual activity, internalized and external homophobia, social oppression, and family conflict (Drabble & Underhill, 2002). 7

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16 Understanding the Role of Partners in a Woman s Addiction and Recovery Process To discuss the role that partners play in a woman s recovery process, one must first understand the importance of relationships in women s lives and in their addiction and recovery. In this light, it is critical to recognize that a partner can serve as either a great source of support for a woman or a contributor to her ongoing substance abuse. Theoretical framework: Relational model Finkelstein (1996; Finkelstein, Kennedy, Thomas, & Kearns, 1997) describes a framework for understanding women s AOD difficulties that emphasizes the importance of relationships in women s developmental growth. Her framework stems from work on the relational model developed by Miller and colleagues at the Stone Center for Developmental Studies at Wellesley College (Finkelstein, 1996). This model suggests that women have a great inherent desire to be in relationships, and their sense of self develops through their affiliation, interaction, and engagement with others (Miller, 1991). Recognizing that the self is organized and developed in the context of important relationships (Surrey, 1991), it follows that disconnections are the source of psychological problems. Disconnections can include, for example, separation from parent/family, divorce, violence, and/or sexual abuse. Similarly, Gilligan s (1988) theoretical and empirical explorations of female identity and moral development conclude that identity is formed through the gaining of voices or perspectives, and the self is known through the experience of engagement with different voices or points of view (p.153). Both theoretical paradigms (Gilligan, 1988; Miller, 1984) describe the female maturation process as a distinct process from males. That is, it is the fusion of, not the exclusivity of, dependence and independence in young women s familial relationships that engender growth. Engaging and sustaining familial bonds breed self-awareness and recognition; they do not hinder it or signify stagnation in individual growth. Loyalty to and connection with peers and family members are valued attributes. This is all in contrast to traditional theories about identity development (or more Western views), which posit that maturity is attained when one successfully individuates from the family system. Autonomy and separation are the ideal standards of growth and have often been perceived as indicators of healthy development (Erikson, 1950; Miller, 1984; Steinberg, 1990). Thus, given the cultural emphasis on independence, a woman s need for engagement with others often leads to inner conflict 9

17 when her perceptions and desires are suppressed and she is discouraged from her inherent sense of responsibility for others. As a result, women often compromise their inner sense of self (Miller, 1991); in order to be in relationships, they learn to protect relationships at the expense of the self (Lerner, 1988, p. 153). Finkelstein and colleagues emphasize the importance of relationships in women s ongoing development and the negative repercussions that certain relational impairments can have on women s mental health. Fractured relationships and/or being isolated and disconnected are frequently associated with low self-esteem and anxiety in women (Camp & Finkelstein, 1997). Further, researchers have long noted the statistical association between relational difficulties (e.g., the loss of a loved one) and the onset of depression (Finkelstein, 1996). Similarly, problems with alcohol and other drugs may be strongly rooted in women s past and current relationships (Finkelstein, 1996). For example, Covington (2002) suggests that some women may use drugs or alcohol to fill a void from what is missing in a relationship, and others may use to maintain a relationship (e.g., he s using, so if I do, we ll have something in common and be able to relate better to each other). Additionally, women are more vulnerable than men to the influence of partners on their decision to seek treatment (Riehman, Hser, & Zeller, 2000). That is, female addicts' decision to seek, and motivation to engage in, treatment may be influenced by their partners' AOD use, as well as other partner-related factors. Further, a recent NIDA study highlighted the male-female differences in factors related to relapse. The study noted that female cocaine addicts were prone to relapse after experiencing difficult emotional or interpersonal situations. In contrast, male addicts were prone to relapse when they were feeling up and positive, perhaps because they were overly confident about their ability to handle a drug related binge (NIDA, 1998b). The supportive role of partners in the recovery process The counterpoint to the interpersonal vulnerability that may underlie women s AOD problems is that women in recovery are especially responsive to family and community support, which can minimize their chance of relapse (Comfort & Kaltenbach, 2000; Finkelstein et al., 1997; Laudet, Magura, Furst, & Kumar, 1999; Nelson-Zlupko, Dore, Kauffman, & Kaltenbach, 1996; Riehman, Hser, & Zeller, 2000). In fact, van der Kolk, Perry and Herman (1991) suggest that the ability to derive comfort from another human being is a strong predictor of whether selfdestructive behavior can be regulated (as cited in Johnson & Williams-Keeler, 1998). Similarly, other researchers and program administrators emphasize the inclusiveness of relationship and community partners in drug and alcohol treatment and note that these relationships are essential in sustaining healthy recovery (NIDA, 1997; NIDA, 2001). Because social support during treatment and recovery enhances the likelihood of achieving and maintaining sobriety, partners may be an integral positive motivator in a woman's recovery (Finkelstein, Kennedy, Thomas, & Kearns, 1997). Indeed, Riehman et al. (2000) found that drug-free male partners of female addicts are highly associated with motivating the women's recovery efforts. Additionally, findings from studies of drug and alcohol treatment indicate that the inclusion of a partner or significant other is vital to achieving successful outcomes. For instance, utilizing couples and family therapy during and after treatment substantially improved the clients' recovery process compared with 10

18 clients who did not have such treatment (Galanter, 1993; cited in Laudet, et al., 1999). One study of cocaine abusers showed that including significant others in the treatment was the "best predictor of cocaine abstinence" and that this was especially true for female clients (Higgins, Budney, Bickel, & Badger, 1994). Amaro and Hardy-Fanta (1995) cite research demonstrating that women in treatment have benefited from the support of a partner, and Trepper and colleagues (2000) found that couples therapy for women in AOD treatment contributed to favorable outcomes. In fact, one study found that engaging partners, regardless of their abuse problems, and focusing on relationship difficulties predicts abstinence and sustained recovery (O Farrell, 1991; Zweben & Perlman, 1983, both cited in Trepper, et al., 2000). Similarly, family therapy was found to be a significantly effective treatment component for women addicts in an outpatient treatment program (Zlotnick, Franchino, St. Claire, Cox & St. John, 1996, as cited in Trepper, 2000). Partner-related contributors to addiction Whereas partners often positively influence a woman s recovery process, they also can contribute to the development or perpetuation of AOD addiction in a number of ways. First, male partners may contribute to young women's introduction to alcohol and drug use (Amaro & Hardy-Fanta, 1995; Laudet, Magura, Furst, & Kumar, 1999; U.S. DHHS, 1999). In addition, while initial experimentation with alcohol and marijuana may be normative among adolescents, a women's relationships with drug abusing men often fuel the drive toward harder drugs (Amaro & Hardy-Fanta, 1995). In fact, female addicts are more likely than male addicts to have a partner who uses illegal drugs (Lex, 1995, as cited in Weissman & O'Boyle, 2000). This foray into harder drug use, in turn, can extend women's dependence on men. With men serving as suppliers, women often rely on them in order to maintain their addiction. It also is common for women to engage in prostitution or stealing, often under the supervision of their male partners, to support their addiction (Amaro & Hardy-Fanta, 1995; U.S. DHHS, 1999). In either case, addicts' reliance on their partners for economic support further hampers their recovery efforts and their drive toward self-sufficiency (Riehman, Hser, & Zeller, 2000). There is far less information about the role of lesbian partners in a woman s introduction to AOD. However, bars serve as a common method for connecting with other lesbians, which puts lesbians at risk for coupling with a partner who uses or abuses alcohol (Hughes & Eliason, 2002, p. 286). Additionally, lesbian couples tend to spend a large amount of time together and have high levels of intimacy and shared activities (Causby, Lockhart, White & Greene, 1995 as cited in Drabble & Underhill, 2002; Hughes & Eliason, 2002). Thus, lesbian couples may begin to use AOD together, or, if one partner uses, the other may then be apt to take part as well. Domestic violence Violent and abusive relationships are also prevalent among female substance abusers (Kaufman Kantor & Asdigian, 1997; Weissman & O'Boyle, 2000) and are strongly associated with obstructing women s recovery efforts (U.S. DHHS, 1999). Studies have shown that 90% of female participants in treatment programs have histories of domestic violence (U.S. DHHS, 1999), and results of nationwide surveys reveal that almost three-quarters of all domestic violence incidents involve alcohol either by the victim, the partner, or both (U.S. DHHS, 1999). 11

19 Although most domestic violence research and interventions focus on male-female relationships, a growing body of literature has documented the prevalence of violence in gay and lesbian couples (Burke & Folligstad, 1999; Hughes et al., 2000 as cited in Drabble & Underhill, 2002) and the coexisting AOD use (Burke & Folligstad, 1999). In one study of 104 lesbians, 39% reported a past or present abusive relationship, and 64% of them reported that AOD use was involved (Schilit, Lie, & Montagne, 1990). Several theoretical explanations exist for the strong link between domestic violence and AOD use. First, the prevalence of domestic violence toward women may be due, in part, to the erosion of cultural norms (i.e., appropriateness of hitting a woman) Kantor & Asdigian, 1997). That is, abusing substances may serve as a woman s desperate coping method to minimize the trauma of the violence (U.S. DHHS, 1999). Kilpatrick and colleagues (1997) found that there is a vicious cycle with increased domestic violence causing increased substance abuse, and increased substance abuse fueling future domestic violent acts. In fact, there is strong evidence that drinking by husbands increases a woman s risk for physical assault (Kaufman Kantor & Asdigian, 1997). Whether AOD use is a reaction to the violence or a confounding factor, a woman in a violent relationship may be discouraged from seeking or continuing with treatment for fear of her own and/or her children's well being (Daley & Gorske, 2000). Pathways to Co-Occurrence of Substance Use/Abuse and Domestic Violence 1. Domestic violence self-medication AOD use/abuse 2. Domestic violence mental health self-medication AOD use/abuse 3. AOP use/abuse unsafe relationships domestic violence (Norma Finkelstein, A symposium on the Role of Partners in Women s Recovery, August 2002) and power imbalances in relationships related to employment/finances and/or family roles. Women who use AOD may be even more vulnerable to abuse due to stigmatization that partners may hold about female addicts (Kaufman Kantor & Asdigian, 1997) or by obscuring their ability to be vigilant while intoxicated (Kilpatrick, Acierno, Resnick, Saunders, & Best, 1997). Another theory suggests that substance abuse among female victims of domestic assaults is a consequence of the violence, not a precursor (Kaufman Understanding male partner resistance Even if a partner is not violent, he or she may convey subtle or overtly destructive messages that obstruct a woman's recovery process (Amaro & Hardy-Fanta, 1995; Comfort & Kaltenbach, 2000; Laudet, Magura, Furst, & Kumar, 1999; Riehman, Hser, & Zeller, 2000). One example of a subtle mixed-message that may be transmitted by men to their female partners was described in a study by Laudet and colleagues (1999) who conducted interviews with male partners of women addicted to 12

20 cocaine/crack. In the study, the men's derogatory perceptions and attitudes about female addicts led them to cover up and minimize the fact that their partners were in substance abuse treatment. For many of the men, having a partner who is a cocaine or crack addict was perceived as having a prostitute for a partner since the two events co-occur so frequently. Thus, to evade this stigmatic association from his friends and family, the man avoids engaging in his partner's treatment. As the authors state, "these negative attitudes may affect women and their desire to attend treatment centers" (Laudet, Magura, Furst, & Kumar, 1999). Men's opposition to AOD treatment also may be manifested more directly toward their partners. In fact, female addicts may be physically threatened by their partners if they continue with treatment (Amaro & Hardy-Fanta, 1995; U.S. DHHS, 1999). In one study of drug abusing women, roots of the male partners' coercive actions stemmed from fear of losing their drug partner and sometimes drug source and fear of being abandoned by their partner (Amaro & Hardy-Fanta, 1995). Studies have shown that when both partners are AOD users, their bond to one another often develops out of their mutual addictions. The AOD use may become the focal point of these relationships (Fals-Stewart, Birchler & O Farrell, 1999) and the glue holding the couple together, giving them a distorted sense of attachment to one another (Laudet et al., 1999). Therefore, partners' fear of abandonment is especially heightened when their partner seeks treatment before the using partner is ready. As Laudet and colleagues (1999) explain, "when a woman in recovery severs the drug bond, the attendant intimacy is also likely to be ruptured. The intimacy bond can be reestablished only if the woman resumes using drugs with her partner (p.622)." Alterations to the family system following the recovery of an AOD addicted parent may also affect her partner. Although the prior family structure while the mother was an addict may have been unhealthy, the family members, particularly the partner, had been accustomed to certain roles and responsibilities within this system. Despite the dysfunctional aspect of these roles, family members must now adopt new patterns for relating to one another, which can be stressful for the family members. The fear of this, along with a fear of exposing family secrets, may be two other reasons that partners resist women going into treatment. 13

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